Metal siding with snap acting interlock



J n 2 1967 s. z. TRACHTENBERG METAL SIDING WITH SNAP ACTING INTERLOCK 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1964 INVENTOR SAM Z. TRACHTENBERG :hisATTORNEYS June 20, 1967 s. z. TRACHTENBERG 3,325,952

METAL SIDING WITH SNAP ACTING INTERLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTCR. SAM z TRACHTENBERG his ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3325,952 METAL SiDlNG WITHSNAP ACTING INTERLOCK Sam Z. Trachtenberg, 555th Ave, Munhall, Pa. 15120 Fiied Dec. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 416,839 Ciaims.(Cl. 52276) This invention is for metal siding and relates particularlyto siding having an improved interlocking joint construction. Theinvention is applicable both to the siding strips, and also to the metalcorner covering elements that are used at the corners of buildings.

Metal siding simulating in general appearance wooden clapboard is widelyused both in recovering old buildings and houses and on newconstruction. It is applied in horizontal strips of uniform width, andeach strip has a lower edge adapted to interlock with a starter strip orthe top edge of the strip beneath. Nailing is usually effected throughthe top edge of the strip. The type of interlock most generally used isa so-called Pittsburgh seam or lock where a hook on the lower edge ofthe upper member is slipped under a hook formed by a fold of metal nearthe top edge of the strip below.

This form of lock requires considerable skill on the part of theoperator since the hook at one end of a long strip being applied may nothe slipped as far under the hook element of the strip already inposition as the other end so that the strip being applied is not exactlyparallel with the one below. Also, with a long strip especially, it isdiflicult for one workman to hold the piece horizontal and accomplishthe driving of the first nails necessary to keep it from slipping down.

An important object of the present invention is to so form theinterlocking edges that when an upper strip has its lower edge hookedinto the top edge of the strip beneath, the interfitting parts willspring or snap together so that the strip last applied may then bereleased by the applicator and will not slip down. This allows the applicator to then use both hands to effect the nailing of the piece so putinto position, and assures that each strip will be parallel with the onebeneath.

The novel interlock provided by this invention not only makes the sidingmore easy to apply, but it has numerous other advantages, among whichare less susceptibility to imperfection in manufacture or crushing ofone or the other of the interlocking edges in handling; it provides abetter joint for excluding wind-driven water; and it permits replacementof a panel or strip which may later be marred, dented or damages afterthe siding has been applied, without disturbing other strips. Moreover,the siding may be used with or without insulation boards, but permitsthe use of insulation boards of uniform width and thickness, no bendingof the edges of the insulating boards being necessary.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings showing a present preferred embodiment of myinvention, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows in vertical section a portion of a siding applied to a wallwith no insulation board and with a starter strip for the bottom course,the metal thickness being exaggerated to more clearly show thestructure;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of one of the siding strips;

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 1 but at only onejoint, this view showing the siding strip with insulation board;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through an interlock betweentwo panels with a replacement strip applied for one of the originalones;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a preferred form of corner element;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic perspective view showing a portion of acorner of a building with the siding applied;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of another form of corner; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail showing in vertical section a slightlymodified contour for the interlocking parts.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sidingis an elongated strip 2 of coated metal such as is commonly used forsiding. It is generally prepared in standard lengths and is customarilymade to expose a width of about eight inches, but this may vary, theinvention being also applicable to so-called double-four inch siding,old Dutch and other styles. The top edge of each strip is folded over onthe exposed face to provide a tight or closed lap 3 along the upperedge. This provides a double ply nailing strip or margin. Below thenailing strip the metal that is folded over is bent outwardly to form aledge portion 4, the free edge of the fold then being longitudinallycorrugated or reversely curved as indicated at 5, providing under theledge a recess or groove the entire length of the lip.

The lower edge of the strip is turned backward, extending from theopposite or rear face of the strip at a slightly acute angle therebyforming a sharp shadow-line or corner and a flat flange 7. The free edgeat the rear is an upstanding lip that is also longitudinally corrugatedor reversely curved, as indicated, having a lower portion 8 which isconvex on the surface that confronts the outer face 6 of the strip witha concave groove thereabove forming an outwardly bent bead portion 9 atthe top of this lip, this reversely-curved part being substantiallymatched to interfit with the lip 5 at the top edge of a similar strip.

With this arrangement a lower strip is first applied to the side of abuilding and is nailed to the building at intervals along its length bynails passing through the nailing strip portion 3. The lower edge of thenext strip is then brought to position so that the upstandingreversely-curved lip may be forced up under the downturned lip at thetop edge of the lower strip. With slight upward pressure, the lip at thetop edge of the lower strip will be cammed or sprung outwardly by theportion 9 of the lip 8, and the part 5 of the downturned lip will thensnap into interfitting and interlocking relation with the part 8 of theupturned lip on the lower edge of the section being so applied. When theparts have been snapped together, the bottom edge of the downturned lipdesirably contacts the flange 7, and the top edge of the upturned lipcontacts the ledge portion 4, preventing any further relative movementof the interlocked corrugations or ribs and grooves of the respectivelip portions. As a result the upper strip will be parallel with thelower one. The operator may release the strip after it has been snappedinto position and proceed to drive nails through its nailing strip intothe wall, after which a succeeding strip or panel is in turn applied inthe same manner.

Usually there is a narrow starter strip applied around the bottom of thewall to be covered. This may comprise a narrow flat strip 10, the loweredge of which is formed the same as the top edge of the siding stripsabove described, there being an outwardly-bent ledge portion 11, and adownwardly-turned, reversely-curved downturned lip or flange similar topart 5 of the siding strips.

Since the top edge of each strip is nailed to the wall while the flangedlower edge of each strip holds the lower edge spaced outwardly from theedge which it overlaps, the strips have a downward and outward slope orrake which is desirable. Strips of insulation board of uniform thicknessfrom top to bottom may be used, as indicated at 15. The lower edge ofthis board may be rested on the ledge portion 4 at the top of the lowerstrip and extend under the nailing edge of the upper strip. The usualmethod of application is to apply the insulation by resting its loweredge on the ledge 4 of the siding strip previously applied and securingit with two or three nails. The next course of siding is then sprunginto place and nails are thendriven through the nail margin of thesiding strip and top edge of the insulation. The insulation boards areof uniform width and thickness and require no trimming to enable it tobe used. There is formed below the insulation by the flange '7 acondensation trough. If a foamed plastic insulation is adhered directlyto the back of the metal, it may also be applied in the usual manner.Drainage holes are commonly provided in the lower flange or ledge 7through which condensate may drain.

If, after a siding has been applied, a strip should be dented ordamaged, the damaged strip is cut longitudinally so that about one-thirdonly of its top portion remains and the interlocking portion of thelower part of the cut strip is disengaged by unsnapping it from the topof the strip below. A whole new replacement strip or panel speciallyformed is applied. It has a ribbed upper edge which is pushed upwardly,riding over the short part of the remaining upper edge of the originalpiece and snapping under the lower edge of the strip above, while itslower edge interlocking portion snaps under the upper edge portion ofthe strip below. This is shown in FIG. 4 where 16 is the remaining partof the original strip that has been cut away, 17 the siding strip below,18 the siding strip above, and 19 the replacement strip in place with aflat top edge 20 having a rib 21 therealong spaced downwardly from theedge and which is snapped under the interlock of the strip above. Itslower edge 22 is the same as the lower edge of the original panel.

For complementing the siding strips, I have shown in FIG. an outsidecorner. It is desirably formed of the same material as the sidingstrips. It has a central panel portion 25 of uniform width from top tobottom. Near the top edge of this panel is a nailing area in which thereis a nail hole 26 and spaced downwardly from the top edge is anoutwardly-struck depending integral tab 27 that is attached to the bodyof the panel only at its top edge.

At each side of the central panel there is a side panel 28 that slopesaway from the front panel at an angle of 45 and which is ofdownwardly-increasing width. The bottom edge of the corner piece isslitted on the bend linesdefining the three panels for a suflicientdistance to enable the bottom edges of the panels to be turned inwardlyto form a ledge 29 normal to the plane of the panel on which it isformed. The free edge of this ledge is turned upwardly to provide anupstanding lip 30.

The corner is applied after the siding has been applied. The top edgesof the two side panels are forced under the top edges of the sidingstrips at the corners, the lip 30 of the central panel is forced underthe tab 27 of the corner element below and the lip 30 of each side panelis formed upwardly under the interlock of the siding strips at thecorner below over the top edges of the side panels of thepreviously-applied corner element below. Each corner element is nailedin place after it has been so applied. The height of the corner elementsis matched to the Width of the siding strips, so the corner elementsmatch the course of siding strips all the way up the building.

In place of the corner element shown in FIG. 5, I may provide a directright-angle corner element 35 as shown in FIG. 7. It is an integralpiece of sheet metal having parallel top and botom edges and angle sidesbent on the vertical center line to form two wings 36 and 37 ofdownwardly-increasing width. Each wing has a top edge portion 38 belowwhich is a rib 39 designed to be forced up between the interlockingportions of the corner courses. The bottom of each wing is formedsimilarly to the bottom edge of each siding course, with arearwardly-turned flange having its free edge turned upwardly asindicated at 40 so as to interlock with the interlocking portions of thesiding strips at the bottom of each course. These corners may be 4nailed inplace as in FIG. 5, or they may be retained by the interlock.

In FIG. 5 I have shown the side panels and the upstanding lip at thebottom as being fiat, but the central and side panels of the cornerelement may be formed as in FIG. 7 with a rib 39 downwardly from the topedge of each panel and with the lower edge of each panel contoured asshown in FIG. 7, and in like manner, the two panels 35 of the cornerelements of FIG. 7 could be formed like the side panels of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 8 the construction there shown is essentially the same aspreviously described, but the interlocking ribs and grooves are moreangular. This form of joint may be used in both the strips and thecorners. In the figure, 45 designates the upper part of a lower panelhaving, a tightly folded top 46 to provide a nailing edge as previouslydescribed. The free edge of the fold is bent outwardly to form a ledge47 and then turned downwardly and inwardly at 48 to form an angular bendor groove, and then is bent sharply outwardly. The lower edge of eachpanel is represented by part 49 that is turned rearwardly to provide aflange 50, the free edge 51 of which is bent up and forwardly at anacute angle and at the top is reversely bent to provide a bead or ridge52 that interlocks in the angular groove under the ledge of the stripbeneath. This can produce a joint that will more strongly resistseparation than when the more gradually curved contours are employed.

While I have described siding in the sense of exterior cover for wallsof buildings, the invention may be applied to roofs, patio covers, orelsewhere.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention and specifically set forth certain objects and advantages,other objects and advantages are secured by my invention, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, and various changes andmodifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention andunder the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A siding for buildings comprising a succession ofhorizontally-elongated strips, each of which has a top edge foldedforwardly and downwardly in a closed fold, providing a nailing stripportion for securing the top of each strip to a building wall, saidfold-over top edge having a free edge portion extending horizontal fromthe lower edge of the nailing strip portion to provide a ledge. andwhich turns downwardly at the outer edge of the ledge to provide a lip,the bottom of each strip having a rearwardly-turned flange thereon withthe free edge turned upwardly to provide an upwardly-turned lip thatfits between the downturned lip at the top of the strip below, thedownturned lip at the top of the lower strip and the upturned lip at thebottom of the upper strip being longitudinally ribbed to provide aninterfitting snap acting interlock.

2. A siding for buildings as defined in claim 1 wherein there is aninsulation strip at the rear of each siding strip having its lower edgebearing against the ledge at the top of the strip beneath and its topedge extending under the nailing strip portion of the siding stripbehind which it is placed with the nails passing through its upper edge.

3. A siding for buildings as defined in claim 1 wherein strips on twowalls that are at right angles come together at a corner, of asuccession of corner covering elements,

one such element being provided for each course of siding strips, eachcorner covering element comprising a central panel portion of uniformwidth from top to bottom, a side panel at each side of the central panelof downwardly-increasing width, the side panels diverging from thecentral panel each at 45 relative to the plane of the central panel, thebottom of each panel having an inwardly-turned flange with anupwardly-extending lip, the central panel having a nailing hole throughit near the top edge and having an outwardly-struck depending tab belowthe nail hole, the upturned lip of the flange of each central panelbeing hooked under the tab of the element beneath it, the upturned lipsof the side panels being engaged under the interfitted lips of thecourses of adjacent siding strips at the bottoms thereof and the tops ofthe side panels being wedged under the interfitted lips at the tops ofthe adjacent siding courses.

4. A corner element for application to the juncture of two siding stripsat right angles to each other compris ing an integral sheet metal bodyhaving a central panel of uniform width from top to bottom, a side panelat each side of the central panel sloping away from each at an angle of45 to the plane of the central panel, each side panel being ofdownwardly-increasing width, all of the panels having the bottom edgeturned inwardly to provide a flange with an upturned lip, the centralpanel having a nailing area near the top and an integral depending tabstruck outwardly from the central panel below the nailing area.

5. A siding for a building as defined in claim 1 wherein strips on twowalls that are at right angles meet and terminate at the corner with thestrips on the two walls being in horizontal alignment, a verticalsuccession of corner elements at said corner, one of which cornerelements is provided for each course of siding strips, each cornerelement comprising a sheet metal body having two angularlydisposed wingsextending over and covering the ends of the siding strips of the courseto which it is applied, each Wing having a top edge portion having anoutwardlyprotruding rib thereacross adapted to be forced under the lipthat extends downwardly from the ledge at the top of the strip which itcovers, said corner element being of a length to match the full heightof the course of strips to which it is applied, the lower edge portionof each wing having an inwardly-turned flange with anupwardly-projecting lip having a rib thereacross in a position tointerlock with the ridges and grooves at the top and bottom edges of theinterlocking strip portions at the bottom of the same course.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,892 2/ 1903 Charlebois 525301,609,127 11/1926 Rachlin 52-531 2,173,774 9/1939 Birch et a1. 525222,853,163 9/1958 Lockwood 52530 3,110,130 11/ 1963 Trachtenberg 52-404 X3,120,082 2/1964 Mendelsohn 52531 3,159,943 12/1964 Sugar et al 52-278FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. A. C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner;

1. A SIDING FOR BUILDINGS COMPRISING A SUCCESSION OFHORIZONTALLY-ELONGATED STRIPS, EACH OF WHICH HAS A TOP EDGE FOLDEDFORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN A CLOSED FOLD, PROVIDING A NAILING STRIPPORTION FOR SECURING THE TOP OF EACH STRIP TO A BUILDING WALL, SAIDFOLD-OVER TOP EDGE HAVING A FREE EDGE PORTION EXTENDING HORIZONTAL FROMTHE LOWER EDGE OF THE NAILING STRIP PORTION TO PROVIDE A LEDGE AND WHICHTURNS DOWNWARDLY AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE LEDGE TO PROVIDE A LIP, THEBOTTOM OF EACH STRIP HAVING A REARWARDLY-TURNED FLANGE THEREON WITH THEFREE EDGE TURNED UPWARDLY TO PROVIDE AN UPWARDLY-TURNED LIP THAT FITSBETWEEN THE DOWNTURNED LIP AT THE TOP OF THE STRIP BELOW, THE DOWNTURNEDLIP AT THE TOP OF THE LOWER STRIP AND THE UPTURNED LIP AT THE BOTTOM OFTHE UPPER STRIP BEING LONGITUDINALLY RIBBED TO PROVIDE AN INTERFITTINGSNAP ACTING INTERLOCK.